Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign teenage midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa for a fee The Athletic understands to be £20million.
The clubs confirmed on Tuesday evening that the 18-year-old had been given permission to travel to London to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical ahead of a permanent transfer.
The Athletic reported last month that Chukwuemeka— a product of Aston Villa’s blossoming Bodymoor Heath academy and winner of the European Under-19 Championship with England this summer — was being chased by Barcelona and AC Milan.
Other clubs in Italy and Germany were monitoring the situation and while there was plenty of interest in England too, Chelsea look to have won the race for his signature.
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Villa had tried to extend his contract since October after making it clear the attacking midfielder would play a big part in their future, and are understood to have wanted a substantial fee were he to leave in this window.
Chukwuemeka joined the Villa academy from Northampton Town in 2016 and made his senior debut against Tottenham in May 2021. The youngster made 11 Premier League appearances in 2021-22.